Edexcel GCE

Core Mathematics C4

Partial Fractions and

Binomial Expansion

Materials required for examination Items included with question papers

Mathematical Formulae (Green) Nil

Advice to Candidates
You must ensure that your answers to parts of questions are clearly labelled.
You must show sufficient working to make your methods clear to the Examiner. Answers
without working may gain no credit.
 1
1. f(x) = (4 + x) , x < 4.

Find the binomial expansion of f (x) in ascending powers of x, up to and including the term in x3.
Give each coefficient as a simplified fraction.
(6)
[June 2009]
27 x 2 + 32 x + 16 2
2. f(x) = , x < .
(3 x + 2) (1 x)
2
3

Given that f(x) can be expressed in the form

A B C
f(x) = + + ,
(3 x + 2 ) (3x + 2) 2 (1 x )

(a) find the values of B and C and show that A = 0.

(4)
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find the series expansion of f(x), in ascending powers of x, up to and
including the term in x2. Simplify each term.
(6)
(c) Find the percentage error made in using the series expansion in part (b) to estimate the value
of f(0.2). Give your answer to 2 significant figures.
(4)
[January 2009]
1
3. (a) Expand (4 3 x) , where x < 43 , in ascending powers of x up to and including the term
in x2. Simplify each term.
(5)
x+ 8
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find the first 3 terms in the expansion of (4 3 x) as a series in
ascending powers of x.
(4)
[June 2008]
4. (a) Use the binomial theorem to expand
1 8
(8 3x) 3 , x < 3 ,

in ascending powers of x, up to and including the term in x3, giving each term as a simplified
fraction.
(5)
(b) Use your expansion, with a suitable value of x, to obtain an approximation to 3(7.7).
Give your answer to 7 decimal places. (2)
[January 2008]

2
 3
5. f(x) = (3 + 2x)3, x < 2 .

Find the binomial expansion of f(x), in ascending powers of x, as far as the term in x3.

Give each coefficient as a simplified fraction.

(5)
[June 2007]
2
6. f(x) = (2 5x)2, x < 5 .

Find the binomial expansion of f(x), in ascending powers of x, as far as the term in x3, giving each
coefficient as a simplified fraction.
(5)
[January 2007]
3x 1
7. f(x) = , x < 12 .
(1 2 x) 2

1 3x 1 A B
Given that, for x 2 , (1 2 x ) 2 = (1 2 x ) + (1 2 x ) 2 , where A and B are constants,

(a) find the values of A and B.

(3)
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find the series expansion of f(x), in ascending powers of x, up to and
including the term in x3, simplifying each term.
(6)
[June 2006]
3 x 2 + 16 B C
8. f(x) = = + + , x < 13 .
(1 3 x)(2 + x) 2 (2 + x) (2 + x) 2

(a) Find the values of A and C and show that B = 0.

(4)
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find the series expansion of f(x), in ascending powers of x, up to and
including the term in x3. Simplify each term.
(7)
[January 2006]